Container construction



Dec. 15, 1942. o. w. WENTZ CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 06cm MM/VTZ' ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1942. o. w. WENTZCONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed-May 12,; 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wm m WWW WA? w ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15,

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Oscar W. Wentz, Long Island City, N. Y., assignorto United States Automatic Box Machinery 00., Inc., Boston, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Application Mayt12, 1939, Serial No.273,196

4 Claims. (01. 1229-16) p This invention relates to containerconstruction and more particularly to the construction of containersmade of paper or like material.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensiveand practical container construction of the above-mentioned character.Another object is to provide a container construction that will bestrong and durable, economical in the use of paper or like material andcapable of ready and inexpensive fabrication. Another object is toprovide a container construction of paper or like. material having abottom construction capable of being dependably reinforced, as withsheet metal. Another object is to provide a container construction inwhich a dependable sealing of the bottom may be reliably andinexpensively achieved as by a clamping action. Another object is toprovide a container construction of paper or like material having abottom construction so strengthening and reinforcing the side walls andthe container generally that, though relatively light sheet material isemployed, the container will have a substantial load-carrying capacityand can reliably withstand the hazards incidental to its use andhandling. Another object is to provide a container bottom constructionthat will be strong and durable and tight. Another object is to providea container bottom construction in which the advantages ofclampingmembers, 1

such as sheet metal clamps, may be inexpensively and reliably achievedfor, effecting also tightness or sealing, durability, and reinforcement.Another object is to provide a blank out of which a container may beefficiently dependably and inexpensively formed. Other, objects will bein part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several stepsand relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others,all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the following claims. I

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown the mechanicalfeatures'of several of the possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view or development of a blank, certain 'parts beingbroken away or omitted, out of which a container may be formed;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the blank in the course ofcertain of the folding operations performed on it to form the containerbody;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the container body showing also certainflap-securing means;

, tainer body in another stage and also certain flap-securing devicesthat may be related thereto.

,Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views in the. drawings.

Referring first to Figure 1 of 'the drawings, I have there shown a blankmade of a single piece of suitable sheet material, such as paper,cardboard, or other appropriate fibrous, cellulose or like material,hereinafter termed for convenience, but not by way of limitation, paper.In Figure 1 an illustrative outline or shape of the blank is shownexcepting for the upper and lower margins l0 and II which are indicatedas being broken away in order to indicate that the portions of the blankbeyond these marginal lines I0 and H may be given any shape or formdepending upon the type of top closure which it is desired to employ, mypresent invention being not concerned with any particular type of topclosure and itbeing suflicient to point out that any suitable form ortype of which several are known in the art may be employed.

Substantially centrally of the blank are score lines l2, l3, l4, l5outlining a quadrangular or four-sided bottom A which, for purposes ofi1- lustration, may be square. From the ends of the score line 12 thereextend upwardly score lines I6 and H which, with the score line l2,outlines an end wall 3. Score or fold lines I6, H are preferablyparallel but, as understood in the art, may be made to be upwardlydivergent to give the end wall '3 a tapered shape where the ultimatecontainer is to be tapered so that it may be nested with others; it istherefore to be understood that my invention is not to be limited toeither form.

In like manner, score lines I8 and 19 extend from the ends of the endedge or score line H of the bottom A andlike the score lines I6, I! arealso shown as parallel; score lines l8, l4

and I9 encompass an end wall C that is ultimately to be juxtaposed tothe end wall B.

End wall B has lateral extensions E and F which are to .form portions,respectively, of two opposed side walls of the ultimate container andthese extensions E and .F may be and preferably are shaped as shown inFigure l, as appears by the relationship between the score line l6 andthe edge of the blank and by the score line l1 and the edge 2! of theblank; the bottom boundaries of the extensions E and F are indicated bythe score lines 22 and 23, respectively,

the latter, where the container is to be tapered. extending at slightangles to the score line 12 of the bottom A.

In like manner end wall C has lateralextensions G and H which are toform portions of respective opposed side walls and, like the extensionsE and F, they are preferably dimensioned and shaped to coincide with thedimensions and shapes of the ultimate side walls themselves. Extension Gis laterally bounded by the score line l8 and the cut edge 24 of theblank while extension H is laterally bounded by the score line 19 andthe edge 25 of the blank. The bottom boundaries of the extensions G andH are indicated by the score lines 26 and 21, respectively, the latterbeing straight-line extensions at slight angles from the score line Nforming one edge of the bottom A where it is not desired to have theabove-mentioned tapered shape of the ultimate container.

Accordingly, where the lateral extensions E, F, G and H are each, as inthe preferred form, of the same shape as the respective side wall ofwhich they are to form a part, the score lines 22 and 26 are of the samelength as the score line l5 of the bottom A and score lines 23 and 21are of the same length as the score line l3.

The blank is cut out, as at 28 and 29, the line of cutting preferablyavoiding the score lines 22, I5 and 26, so far as the cut-out 28 isconcerned and score lines 23, I3 and 21 so far as the cutout 29 isconcerned, thereby leaving U'shaped flaps 30 and 3|. U-shaped flap 30 isbroken up by score lines 32 and 34 which run diagonally to two corners,respectively, of the bottom A, thus forming flap-like extensions E A andG of the areas or sections E, A and G, respectively. In

like manner, the U-shaped flap 3i is broken up by diagonal score lines35 and 31 "to form flaplike extensions F A and H of the containerportions F, A and H, respectively. Preferably, flap extensions G and Hare of lesser length than the flap portions A and A respectively, forreasons later set forth, and this may be achieved in the mannerindicated in Figure 1.

In folding the blank of Figure l to form the container, adhesive isapplied to the portions E, E A and G and to the portions F, F A and H itbeing noted that I am enabled to arrange the various parts sothat theadhesive is applied only on one side of the blank, a feature achievingcertain advantages in the construction and operation of the machinesfor-forming the container, and in Figure 2 is indicated in perspectiveseveral of the various steps to which the blank is subjected in foldingit up into a container body. Thus, side Wall portions G and H are swungabout the fold lines l8, 19, respectively, to approximate aU-cross-section, and the resultant unit or section comprising the partsG, C and H, with the flaps G and H is then swung in counter-clockwisedirection about the fold line l4 through substantially 90 to bring foldlines 21 and I3 and 26 and I5 into substantial coincidence, therebybringing the adhesive-bearing faces of flaps H and A and of G and A intocontact and registry, the above-described swin ing action beingaccompanied by a downward swinging of the flaps A and A due to theconnection of these flaps, at the fold lines 34 and 31 with the flaps Gand H respectively.

During or subsequent to the above-described folding or swingingmovements or actions, side wall portions E and F may be swung somewhatinwardly about the fold lines I5 and I1, respectively, and the portionsE, B and F with the flap portions E and F then swung in clockwisedirection about the fold line l2 as an axis, this latter movement beingcompleted after the completion of the above-described movement of theparts G, C and H; thereupon the side wall portions E and F are swung ina direction toward each other about the score lines 16 and I! to bringtheir adhesive-bearing faces against the side wall portions G and H,respectively,.the edges 24 and 25 of the parts G and H and the scorelines 16 and I! being brought into coincidence.

Side wall portions F becomes secured to the portion H and side wallportion E becomes secured to the part G. But flap portion F of the partF becomes laid against the outer face of the flap H and against somuchof the flap A that is left uncovered by the flap H where the latter, asin the preferred form, is made of lesser length than the flap A. In likemanner flap portion E becomes laid against and secured to the outer faceof the fiap G and so much of the adhesivebearing face of flap A that isnot completely covered by the flap G These various folding operationsare accompanied, as will be clear, by a folding of flap F relative toflap A about the score line 35, a like folding action taking place aboutthe score line 32 with respect to the flaps E and A Suitablepressure-applying means is brought into operation to set the creases orfolds and also to press together those parts between which an adhesiveis interposed.

The resultant container body is shown in Figure 3 as it would appearfrom the right in Figure 2 upon the completion in the latter figure ofthe various operations above described, and it will be seen that thereresults two downwardly projecting composite flaps E G A and F H A InFigure 4 the structure is seen as viewed from the right in Figure 3.Because of the preferred shortening'of the flap portions G and H aneffect of which is indicated in Figure 4, I am enabled to insure thatthe closure and sealing at those corners where the fold lines 32 and 35(Figure 2) appear is more dependable and secure and not made dependentupon the nature of the fitting of the diagonal ends of the flaps G and Hinto coincidence with the fold lines 32 and 35, respectively, though itwill be understood that I achieve good results even without shorteningFor certain purposes and depending upon the nature of the sheet materialor paper employed, particularly where it is relatively heavy, I mayutilize the container in the form as it appears in Figures 3 and 4 or Imay fold and secure the above-mentioned composite flaps preferablyagainst the bottom A. However, and particularly where the container isconstructed to withstand substantial stresses and strains and is made ofquite heavy paper, I prefer to apply suitable fastening means to holdtogether and against separation the several elements of these compositedownwardly extending flaps. Preferably I employ U-shaped sheet; metalclamping members 40 and 4| (Figures 3 and 4) into which these compositeflaps are respectively received, suitable pressure being applied toforce the arms or opposed parts of the U-shaped members 4|] and 4|toward each other and hence depend-ably to clamp and hold the parts ofthe composite flaps against separation.

Preferably, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the clamping members 40 and4| are connected together by a plate-like portion 43 and the three parts40, 43 and 4| are preferably made of a single piece of sheet metal orother suitable material, the plate-like portion 43 having an areacommensurate with that of the under face of the bottom A.

In Figure 5 is shown theresultant container construction as it appearswith the clamping members 40 and 4| applied and also, as in thepreferred form, with the plate portion 43 integral therewith; by theplate portion '43 the bottom A is very substantially reinforced andstrengthened and its load-carrying capacity or its resistance to strainsand stresses greatly increased. Strains or loads imposed upon the bottomA may thus be transmitted to the bottom reinforcement 43 and by thelatter to the U-shaped clamping members 40 and 4| and by the latter inturn to the twolayer ed side walls EG and H-F, respectively. Preferably,also, the clamping of the U-shaped members 40 and 4| to their respectivecomposite flaps is accompanied by indenting the sheet material of botharms of these U-shaped clamping members in any suitable manner and atappropriately distributed points so as to bite into the material of thecomposite flaps.

An additional feature of construction which I may achieve by making theparts 40, 43 and 4| integral is shown in Figure 6 in which,the twocomposite flaps with their attached U-shaped clamping members 40 and 4|are bent inwardly toward each other, as shown, and up against the underface of the bottom reinforcing plate portion 43, this bending operationbeing accompanied by appropriate pressure application, as in verticaldirections, to set the sheet metal and paper parts into the form shownin Figure 6.

The additional fold thus given the composite flaps insures furthertightness of the seals or of the sealing between the individual flapportions of the composite flaps and also brings directly underneath thebottom reinforcing plate 43 the two U-shaped clamping members 40 and 4|,the latter, due to their configuration and clamping of the compositeflaps, offering great resistance to bending and thus bringing about astronger bottom construction than that of Figure 5 though it is to benoted that even in the latter the inherent resistance to bending of thesheet metal structure due to its conformation greatly strengthens theresultant structure.

,Also, it will be noted that the structures of Figures 3, 5 and 6dependably protect the bottom from contact with supporting surfaces orpoints in that the downwardly projecting composite flaps with or withoutthe metal or like clamping or securing parts act in the nature of legs,or the like, for direct contact with a supporting surface and that inthe constructions of Figures 5 and 6 these parts, covered preferably bymetal. extend the excellent characteristics of the latter to cope withthe wear and tear of contact and engagements of the container with asupporting surface. These features are particularly advantageous wherethe container is made, whether in large or small size, to containmaterials, liquid or otherwise, of large weight per unit volume.

Under certain circumstances it may be'desirable to provide the flapportions E and F with extensions E and F as shownin Figure 7; theseextensions may be provided with adhesive at the same time that the flapportions E and F have the same applied thereto and these flap extensionsE and F may be folded upwardly about the remaining flap portions of theotherwise composite flaps, as shown in Figure 8, thus forming a four-plycomposite flap at each of the two sides of the bottom, and additionallysealing the junctions between the composite flaps. The resultantstructure may be utilized in that form, the plies of the severalcomposite flaps may be secured together, as by wire stitchirigjasindicated in Figure 8 at 44, just as the composite flaps of Figures 3and 4 may be secured together by stitching, preferably oi wire, asindicated at 44 in those figures or, if desired, may have appliedthereto clamping members 40 and 4|, preferably with an integral bridgingand bottom reinforcing part 43 which may be with the composite flapstreated as described above in connection with Figures 5 or 6.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention acontainer construction and method of achieving the same in which theseveral objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many thoroughlypractical advantages, are successfully achieved. The construction willbe seen to be practical, inexpensive, easy to fabricate and strong anddurable, being well adapted to meet thehardest and the varyingconditions of practical use.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features ofthe above invention and as the art herein described might be varied invarious parts, all without departing fromthe scope of the invention, itis to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown inthe accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. A paper container made of a single sheet and comprising a four-sidedbottom, two opposed sides of which are extended to form opp sed endwalls, said end walls each having lateral extensions respectivelyoverlapped to form two side walls, each pair of overlapped lateralextensions having flap extensions connected with a flap extension of oneof the remaining two sides of said bottom, the three flap extensions ateach of said remaining sides of the bottom being overlapped andextending downwardly below the plane of the bottom to lie substantiallyin the plane of an adjacent side wall, and means clampingly embracingsaid three flap extensions so as to both secure the flaps thereoftogether and hold said three flap extensions in the aforesaid extendedpositions, whereby to form supports for the container adapted to offsetthe bottom thereof from a surface upon which the container is stood.

2. A paper container made of a single sheet and comprising a four-sidedbottom, two opposed sides of which are extended to form opposed endwalls, said end walls each having lateral extensions respectivelyoverlapped to form two side walls, each pair of overlapped lateralextensions having flap extensions connected with a flap extension of oneof the remaining two sides of said bottom, the three flap extensionsateach of said'remaining sides of the bottom being overlapped andextending downwardly below the plane of the bottom, and means forsecuring together the three overlapped flap extensions of each of saidtwo sets comprising a sheet metal plate resting against said bottom andhaving at two opposed ends U-shaped clamping portions in which said twosets are respectively received and clamped.

3. A paper container made of a single sheet and, comprising a four-sidedbottom, two opposed sides of which are extended to form opposed endwalls, said end walls each having lateral extensions respectivelyoverlapped to form two side walls, each pair of overlapped lateralextensions having flap extensions connected with a flap extension of oneof the remaining two sides of said bottom, the three flap extensions ateach of said remaining sides of the bottom being overlapped andextending downwardly below the plane of the bottom, and means forsecuring together the three overlapped flap extensions of each of saidtwo sets comprising a sheet metal plate resting against said bottom andhaving at two opposed ends U-shaped clamping portions in which said twosets are respectively received and clamped, each of said U-shapedclamping portions with its clamped flap extensions being bent inwardlytoward each other and against the under face of said sheet metal plate.

4. A paper container made of a single sheet and comprising a four-sidedbottom, two opposed sides of which are extended to form opposed endwalls, said end walls each having lateral exten sions respectivelyoverlapped to form two side walls, each pair of overlapped lateralextensions having flap extensions connected with a'flap extension of oneof the remaining two sides of said bottom, the three flap extensions ateach of said remaining sides of the bottom being overlapped andextending downwardlybelow the-plan of the bottom, and means for securingtogether the three overlapped flap extensions of each of said two setscomprising a sheet metal plate resting against said bottom and having attwo opposed ends U-shaped clamping portions in which said two sets arerespectively received and clamped,

each of aid U-shaped clamping portions with its clamped flap extensionsbeing bent so that each makes an angle with the plane of said bottom.

OSCAR W. WENTZ.

